Is my waste hazardous? The Environmental Health & Safety Office can assist with determining specific cases, with compliant labeling and container selection. If you have a request or questions, please contact EHS at 805-756-6678 or email at hazwaste@calpoly.edu.
Since 2022, Cal Poly campus generators have been using the WASTe (Waste Accumulation Storage Tracking electronically) system within the Risk and Safety Solutions Risk and Safety Solutions (RSS) program. All waste generated in laboratories and research environments must use RSS WASTe to ensure proper tracking and management. This integrated system, which also handles campus inspections and chemical inventories, has become our standard practice for regulatory compliance. All campus laboratories and shops should have access to RSS. If you need access, you'll need to be assigned to a specific "role" and "group" within the system—contact your principal investigator (PI), lab manager, supervisor, or EHS department. For additional resources, training materials, and guidance, visit the Risk and Safety Solutions (RSS) Web Page. Contact EHS at hazwaste@calpoly.edu if you have any questions or concerns.
Note: Laboratories with dedicated waste technician staff who consolidate routine wastes within their department continue to follow department-specific protocols.
Batteries contain hazardous materials and should never be thrown into regular trash. Similarly, e-waste (computers, laptops, monitors, TVs, computer peripherals, etc.) contains metals and other hazardous materials that can harm the environment if released. These items should never be thrown into regular trash. Instead, they require proper disposal through designated e-waste recycling channels.
Campus office areas can request a battery collection bucket for recycling consumer-type batteries by submitting a pickup request using the form below.
NOTE: If you live in student housing, please use the dedicated e-waste and battery containers located in the Post Offices, which are collected by Surplus.
If you are not a user of RSS (office spaces), have expired materials which are in the original packaging or otherwise are not able to use WASTe in RSS to request a hazardous waste pickup, please use the REQUEST A PICK-UP FORM below. Please do NOT transport hazardous materials to Environmental Health & Safety without prior approval. If you have any questions or concerns, please call EHS/Facilities Help Center at 805-756-5555 or email hazwaste@calpoly.edu.
To request new containers for accumulating hazardous waste, please use the REQUEST WASTE SUPPLIES Form below.
To comply with all applicable federal, state and local regulations campus specific policies for the acquisition of hazardous materials are defined in the policies below.
